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***Breaking*** Six Fed Prosecutors in MN Resign In Response to TSF Manipulation of the Good Shooting Investigation
Per CNN
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***Breaking*** Six Fed Prosecutors in MN Resign In Response to TSF Manipulation of the Good Shooting Investigation (Original Post)
DemocratSinceBirth
Yesterday
OP
Yeah, I don't really see how it does help, nor see why state prosecutors would quit over it
AZJonnie
Yesterday
#5
I think it could be good, these now very experienced civil rights attorneys can now
Bev54
Yesterday
#26
If they stayed, they'd be complicit in /tainted by what amounts to DHS lawlessness. Their leaving leaves DHS totally
ancianita
Yesterday
#24
What good does that do? Don't we need prosecutors who are arrayed against MAGAfascism?
Prairie Gates
Yesterday
#4
Six Prosecutors Quit Over Push to Investigate ICE Shooting Victim's Widow-NYT
irisblue
Yesterday
#10
Joe Thompson, U.S. Attorney who prosecuted Minnesota fraud, resigns with other senior members
mysteryowl
Yesterday
#16
Four leaders of the Civil Rights Division at the DOJ have resigned after decision not to investigate murder of Good
LetMyPeopleVote
Yesterday
#21
Top prosecutors in D.C., Minneapolis leave amid turmoil over shooting probe
LetMyPeopleVote
Yesterday
#27
MaddowBlog-An unraveling Justice Department appears to be coming apart at the seams
LetMyPeopleVote
9 hrs ago
#28
MaddowBlog-In Trump's Justice Department, resignations, once rare, are suddenly much more common
LetMyPeopleVote
4 hrs ago
#29
Srkdqltr
(9,399 posts)1. Will this help?
AZJonnie
(2,870 posts)5. Yeah, I don't really see how it does help, nor see why state prosecutors would quit over it
The group of feds at HQ quitting over the blatant politicization of the DoJ is one thing, I applaud that, but this move seems counter-productive, at first glance at least.
ETA: Oh, okay these are actually US Attorneys, not "MN prosecutors" as I'd read the headline initially. My bad. Still don't like it.
liberalgunwilltravel
(1,088 posts)19. It could help
As now they are free to testify of attempted manipulation of the investigation.
AZJonnie
(2,870 posts)20. Fair enough. If that happens, I will revisit my calculus :)
Bev54
(13,223 posts)26. I think it could be good, these now very experienced civil rights attorneys can now
work for those whose rights are being trampled against a much diminished civil rights DOJ. The tables have turned, it is no longer the government looking out for peoples civil rights, it is now the people that must fight the government for their rights.
Hasn’t led to a slowdown of abuse in DC, for example.
I don’t know what the right thing to do here is, except don’t comply with illegal orders.
Torchlight
(6,349 posts)23. By what measure?
Collectively probably very little. Ethically it probably assists them quite a bit.
Dave Bowman
(6,715 posts)2. Nice to see some people with principles for a change.
malaise
(293,072 posts)14. THIS
Rec
RandySF
(81,319 posts)3. I have mixed feelings about this.
I appreciate their stand but we lose more of the few remaining staff with consciences.
ancianita
(42,960 posts)24. If they stayed, they'd be complicit in /tainted by what amounts to DHS lawlessness. Their leaving leaves DHS totally
weak in the courts. Why?
Because federal judges are talking across the country; by now they can easily handle these cases well enough to adhere to facts and law, no matter who steps up to "prosecute."
Leaving maintains a huge, clean pool of federal prosecutors who will know what and how to bring cases against these lawless govt agencies when third parties with federal standing bring lawsuits.
That's a good thing.
In the long run it makes more sense for good, qualified, experienced prosecutors to refuse the lawless gaming going on with DHS, and preserve their ethical/legal standing as counsel, than to go along to get along with at-scale lawless DOJ duplicity.
Prairie Gates
(7,250 posts)4. What good does that do? Don't we need prosecutors who are arrayed against MAGAfascism?
Ocelot II
(129,232 posts)11. They are leaving because they were being required to support MAGAfascism.
leftstreet
(38,926 posts)7. I'd rather see a headline saying they were FIRED
Meh
Justice
(7,247 posts)8. Correct or delete post. Fed prosecutors located in MN
MineralMan
(150,676 posts)9. It is FEDERAL prosecutors who have resigned, not state.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2026/01/13/at-least-6-minnesota-doj-prosecutors-resign-after-request-for-probe-into-renee-goods-widow/
County prosecutors in MN are elected and are called County Attorneys. These resigners are DOJ prosecutors.
This is why including a link to stories you post on DU is important. That or using Google to fact check before posting.
County prosecutors in MN are elected and are called County Attorneys. These resigners are DOJ prosecutors.
This is why including a link to stories you post on DU is important. That or using Google to fact check before posting.
irisblue
(36,862 posts)10. Six Prosecutors Quit Over Push to Investigate ICE Shooting Victim's Widow-NYT
Ocelot II
(129,232 posts)12. No paywall link here:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/13/us/prosecutors-doj-resignation-ice-shooting.html?unlocked_article_code=1.EFA.mBXB.Si5VqobVKhnn&smid=url-share
Mr. Thompson’s resignation came after senior Justice Department officials pressed for a criminal investigation into the actions of the widow of Renee Nicole Good, the Minneapolis woman killed by an ICE agent on Wednesday.
Mr. Thompson, 47, a career prosecutor, objected to that approach, as well as to the Justice Department’s refusal to include state officials in investigating whether the shooting itself was lawful, the people familiar with his decision said.
The Minneapolis police chief, Brian O’Hara, said in an interview that Mr. Thompson’s resignation dealt a major blow to efforts to root out rampant theft from state agencies. The fraud cases, which involve schemes to cheat safety net programs, were the chief reason the Trump administration cited for its immigration crackdown in the state. The vast majority of defendants charged in the cases are American citizens of Somali origin.
“When you lose the leader responsible for making the fraud cases, it tells you this isn’t really about prosecuting fraud,” Mr. O’Hara said.
Mr. Thompson, 47, a career prosecutor, objected to that approach, as well as to the Justice Department’s refusal to include state officials in investigating whether the shooting itself was lawful, the people familiar with his decision said.
The Minneapolis police chief, Brian O’Hara, said in an interview that Mr. Thompson’s resignation dealt a major blow to efforts to root out rampant theft from state agencies. The fraud cases, which involve schemes to cheat safety net programs, were the chief reason the Trump administration cited for its immigration crackdown in the state. The vast majority of defendants charged in the cases are American citizens of Somali origin.
“When you lose the leader responsible for making the fraud cases, it tells you this isn’t really about prosecuting fraud,” Mr. O’Hara said.
irisblue
(36,862 posts)13. Thank you thank you thank you
lostnfound
(17,417 posts)15. Oh sh** Quit to protest investigating victim's WIDOW?
No bar too low, there is no bar
irisblue
(36,862 posts)22. No there is no limit. The devils are in the DOJ& DHS & hell is empty
mysteryowl
(8,152 posts)16. Joe Thompson, U.S. Attorney who prosecuted Minnesota fraud, resigns with other senior members
Joe Thompson, U.S. Attorney who prosecuted Minnesota fraud, resigns with other senior members
https://democraticunderground.com/10143598011
aeromanKC
(3,829 posts)17. Independant investigation, State investigation and or Civil litigation.....
You cannot tell me the DOJ can prevent all judication in this murder.
RockCreek
(1,365 posts)18. Where do legal and professional standards and expectations fit into this?
LetMyPeopleVote
(175,340 posts)21. Four leaders of the Civil Rights Division at the DOJ have resigned after decision not to investigate murder of Good
Alpeduez21
(2,010 posts)25. I've never understood this
They’ll just be replaced with maga pieces of shit.
LetMyPeopleVote
(175,340 posts)27. Top prosecutors in D.C., Minneapolis leave amid turmoil over shooting probe
Prosecutors in the U.S. attorney’s office left after pressure to investigate the widow of a woman slain by an ICE officer.
Top prosecutors in D.C., Minneapolis leave amid turmoil over shooting probe
Prosecutors in the U.S. attorney’s office left after pressure to investigate the widow of a woman slain by an ICE officer. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
— Jersey Craig (@jerseycraig.bsky.social) 2026-01-13T20:59:41.970Z
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/01/13/justice-department-civil-rights-resignations/
Multiple senior prosecutors in Washington and Minnesota are leaving their jobs amid turmoil over the Trump administration’s handling of the shooting death of a Minneapolis woman.
The departures include at least five prosecutors from the U.S. attorney’s office in Minneapolis, including the office’s second-in-command, according to emails obtained by The Washington Post and people familiar with the matter.
Their resignations followed demands by Justice Department leaders to investigate the widow of Renée Good, the 37-year-old woman killed last week by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who shot into her car, according to two people familiar with the resignations who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of concern for retaliation. Good’s wife was protesting ICE officers in the moments before the shooting. Prosecutors also were dismayed over the decision by federal officials to exclude state and local authorities from the investigation, one of the people said.
Five senior prosecutors in the criminal section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division also said they are leaving, according to four people familiar with the personnel moves who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters.
The departures strip both the Civil Rights Division’s criminal section and U.S. attorney’s office in Minnesota of their most experienced prosecutors. The moves are widely seen as a major vote of no-confidence by career prosecutors at a moment when the department is under extreme scrutiny......
“This exodus is a huge blow signaling the disrespect and sidelining of the finest and most experienced civil rights prosecutors,” said Vanita Gupta, the head of the division during the Obama administration and the associate attorney general during the Biden administration. “It means cases won’t be brought, unique expertise will be lost and the top career attorneys who may be a backstop to some of the worst impulses of this administration will have left.”
The departures include at least five prosecutors from the U.S. attorney’s office in Minneapolis, including the office’s second-in-command, according to emails obtained by The Washington Post and people familiar with the matter.
Their resignations followed demands by Justice Department leaders to investigate the widow of Renée Good, the 37-year-old woman killed last week by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who shot into her car, according to two people familiar with the resignations who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of concern for retaliation. Good’s wife was protesting ICE officers in the moments before the shooting. Prosecutors also were dismayed over the decision by federal officials to exclude state and local authorities from the investigation, one of the people said.
Five senior prosecutors in the criminal section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division also said they are leaving, according to four people familiar with the personnel moves who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters.
The departures strip both the Civil Rights Division’s criminal section and U.S. attorney’s office in Minnesota of their most experienced prosecutors. The moves are widely seen as a major vote of no-confidence by career prosecutors at a moment when the department is under extreme scrutiny......
“This exodus is a huge blow signaling the disrespect and sidelining of the finest and most experienced civil rights prosecutors,” said Vanita Gupta, the head of the division during the Obama administration and the associate attorney general during the Biden administration. “It means cases won’t be brought, unique expertise will be lost and the top career attorneys who may be a backstop to some of the worst impulses of this administration will have left.”
LetMyPeopleVote
(175,340 posts)28. MaddowBlog-An unraveling Justice Department appears to be coming apart at the seams
In 2025, the DOJ struggled with everything from purges to incompetence to weaponization. In 2026, its collapse seems to be accelerating
The Justice Department’s unraveling is accelerating:
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-01-13T16:56:50.673Z
- Civil Rights Division resignations
- another prosecutor purged
- bipartisan condemnation of Powell/Fed probe
- multiple court defeats in recent days
- White House takeover
- Trump slams Bondi
An institution in crisis.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/an-unraveling-justice-department-appears-to-be-coming-apart-at-the-seams
But as 2026 gets underway, conditions at the Justice Department have gone from bad to worse. Indeed, almost two weeks into the new year, the DOJ appears to be an agency in crisis, rapidly unraveling before our eyes.
Consider some of the more notable developments from just the past week:
Each of these stories is important in its own right, but taken together, a picture emerges of a Justice Department that appears to be coming apart at the seams.
Consider some of the more notable developments from just the past week:
At least four leading officials from the criminal section of the Civil Rights Division resigned in protest after Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon decided not to investigate the fatal shooting of Renee Good.
The Justice Department fired Robert McBride, a veteran prosecutor, after he declined to lead the controversial prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey.
The Justice Department opened an unprecedented criminal investigation into Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve chair, sparking widespread and bipartisan criticisms.
Vice President JD Vance announced that the administration would soon have a new assistant attorney general but that their work would be “run out of the White House” instead of Main Justice, reinforcing concerns that the West Wing has effectively seized control of the DOJ, which has largely functioned as an independent entity since Watergate.
The New York Times reported on the gutted state of the department, which is plagued by systemic vacancies and prosecutors who fear they’ll be fired for working on cases the political right might not like. Complicating matters, the article added, “personnel typically deployed to national security and fraud cases are being diverted to focus on other priorities, including the president’s demands for investigations into his perceived enemies.”
The Justice Department has suffered a series of defeats in court over the past few days, including embarrassing setbacks in cases related to renewable energy, Energy Department grants to blue states, federal funding for child care and social services in blue states and, as of late Friday, federal election funds.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Donald Trump has “repeatedly” complained to aides in recent weeks about Bondi, “describing her as weak and an ineffective enforcer of his agenda.”
Each of these stories is important in its own right, but taken together, a picture emerges of a Justice Department that appears to be coming apart at the seams.
LetMyPeopleVote
(175,340 posts)29. MaddowBlog-In Trump's Justice Department, resignations, once rare, are suddenly much more common
Prosecutors hardly ever walk away from their sought-after DOJ jobs in protest — but that’s changing in a hurry.
It used to be quite rare to see federal prosecutors resign in large numbers, exiting the Justice Department in protest.
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-01-14T18:18:19.248Z
But as Trump-era abuses become common, it’s clearly not rare anymore. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/resignations-justice-department-minneapolis-more-common
Predictably, problems emerged shortly thereafter. The Justice Department division that typically handles investigations of police shootings, for example, was reportedly excluded from the probe, The Washington Post reported. Around the same time, there was related reporting to suggest the Trump administration’s investigatory focus was on the victim, rather than the shooter.
It’s against this backdrop that The New York Times reported:
The departure of Thompson and several of his colleagues will ironically undermine the Minnesota fraud investigation that the White House claims to care so much about.
These highly sought-after positions are career highlights for those who reach such prosecutorial heights. It’s not at all common for attorneys to walk away from these jobs in protest.....
The more common these resignations become, the clearer it becomes that the DOJ is an institution in crisis and apparently coming apart at the seams
It’s against this backdrop that The New York Times reported:
Six federal prosecutors in Minnesota resigned on Tuesday over the Justice Department’s push to investigate the widow of a woman killed by an ICE agent and the department’s reluctance to investigate the shooter, according to people with knowledge of their decision.
Joseph H. Thompson, who was second in command at the U.S. attorney’s office and oversaw a sprawling fraud investigation that has roiled Minnesota’s political landscape, was among those who quit on Tuesday, according to three people with knowledge of the decision.
The departure of Thompson and several of his colleagues will ironically undermine the Minnesota fraud investigation that the White House claims to care so much about.
These highly sought-after positions are career highlights for those who reach such prosecutorial heights. It’s not at all common for attorneys to walk away from these jobs in protest.....
The more common these resignations become, the clearer it becomes that the DOJ is an institution in crisis and apparently coming apart at the seams